Artists use line and color to convey meaning and invite interpretation. Seventeen pieces of art are used to explore various depictions of faces, hands, and forms. Additional information about the work and the artists are presented in the final section.
Jackson Pollack’s style and energy in his piece Number 1 1950 earned him the nickname Action Jackson. This carefully crafted biography reveals the fascinating details of Pollack’s art, environment, and inspiration.
By: Verna Aardema
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The tale of herdsman Ki-pat is set on a dry African plain and is told in the familiar cadence of “The House that Jack Built”. Animals are introduced, tension builds and the resolution pours forth as the rhyme builds.
By: Baba Diakite
BaMusa takes a break from selling his hats – only to have them stolen by mischievous monkeys. Told in rhythmic language sprinkled with words from Mali, BaMusa’s work to retrieve his hats is illustrated with strong line and bold form.
By: Ed Young
Striking illustrations highlight the drama of this Chinese version of Red Riding Hood. Instead of one girl, three sisters confront and ultimately confound the fearsome, hungry wolf who pretends to be the girls’ grandmother.
By: Nikki Grimes
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In a series of poems, Zuri extols the virtues and shortcomings of her forever friend, Danitra Brown. Set in their urban neighborhood, handsome watercolors illustrate this fresh and often poignant camaraderie.

By: Andrea Pinkney
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Reenie and her mother often fish along a river nicknamed Jim Crow, where they often see Peter and his father fishing, too.

By: Nikki Grimes
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Well composed photographs on pastel pages combine with playful poetry to celebrate everyday pleasures from playing games to enjoying music.

By: Tony Medina
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This poetic tribute to Langston Hughes introduces the poet and the time in which he lived and worked. An author's note provides information about Hughes' life and will likely generate interest in Hughes' poetry.
By: Nikki Grimes
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Impressionistic paintings and gentle verse reveal a child's concern about the new man in his mother's life and the growing affection between them.

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